CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Thanks to Junie Browning’s win over Roli Delgado, Team Mir has evened the score with Team Nogueira at two wins apiece. Will the former heavyweight champ’s squad be able to pull into the lead on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir this week?" />

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir - Episode Seven Recap

CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Thanks to Junie Browning’s win over Roli Delgado, Team Mir has evened the score with Team Nogueira at two wins apiece. Will the former heavyweight champ’s squad be able to pull into the lead on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir this week?

CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Thanks to Junie Browning’s win over Roli Delgado, Team Mir has evened the score with Team Nogueira at two wins apiece. Will the former heavyweight champ’s squad be able to pull into the lead on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir this week?

After the hard-fought three round battle that ended last week’s episode, Delgado rightfully gets praise from members of both teams for his gutsy effort. In the other locker room though, Coach Frank Mir gets on Browning.

“You just went three rounds with Rolando,” said Mir. “I expect more from you, you should expect more from yourself.”

Browning agrees, vowing not to repeat the performance again.

The light heavyweights are up next, and Mir has to choose from Krzysztof Soszynski and Vinny Magalhaes for this week’s bout against either Kyle Kingsbury or Jules Bruchez.

In the gym, Nogueira keeps the mood light while still working his team hard. “Sometimes they need to have fun with their training,” said the interim UFC heavyweight champion.

There is no fun for Team Mir though, as Wanderlei Silva’s conditioning guru, Rafael Alejarra, has been brought in to put the team through a vicious workout that includes the now legendary snorkel training.

Back at the house, Team Nogueira is preparing for their coach’s birthday by baking a couple of cakes and making dinner. Nogueira is visibly moved by the gesture, which just draws snickers from members of Team Mir.

When the two teams convene in the gym, the fight announcement is made, as Magalhaes (2-2) will take on Bruchez (0-0). Bruchez is motivated to fight Magalhaes, who he feels won’t be able to stand with him, but the general consensus is that Magalhaes’ ground game is just too good for Bruchez.

Speaking of ground games, the word around the house was that Magalhaes was taking issue with Nogueira’s acumen on the mat. This got back to Nogueira, who wasn’t too happy about it. He proceeded to let Magalhaes know how he felt, and while the Team Mir denied talking bad about the former PRIDE champion, Nogueira was having none of it, saying “Now we’re enemies.”

In a less tense moment, Soszynski was back to his old tricks, placing a body bag, fake candles and a rest in peace headstone on and around Bruchez’ bed. Bruchez took the prank in stride, saying, “I think it’s the best one (prank) ever.”

Fighting Magalhaes was no laughing matter for Bruchez though, and after eating a series of hard kicks, Bruchez went to the mat with his opponent, and it was lights out after Magalhaes quickly locked in an armbar that ended matters with less than two minutes left in the opening round.

After Team Mir’s third straight win, they move ahead in the competition, 3-2, while keeping control for next week’s bout pick. Here’s how the teams look:

Chad Mendes gives cameras a peek inside his healthy hunter's lifestyle and his chicken coop while Conor McGregor stays loose with a hot tub and soccer ball. Welterweight Rory MacDonald gets in one last workout, and Robbie Lawler arrives in Las Vegas.

7-Jul-2015

Chad Mendes continues to train hard in Sacramento, motivated by the magnitude of the upcoming event. His opponent Conor McGregor does the same in Las Vegas, capping his day with a big-city display of fireworks.

6-Jul-2015

Chad Mendes trades the gym for a pool to test his endurance. Conor McGregor enjoys a poolside massage and adds a few unexpected weapons to his arsenal. Plus, Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald do some final prep at home.

5-Jul-2015

Headliner Conor McGregor heads to Los Angeles for an appearance on Conan. In Sacramento, Chad Mendes discovers that his phone number has been published. Back in Vegas, McGregor gets in some training, and Mendes watches his foe’s late-night appearance.